Warrington

Warrington's population grew in the decade leading up to the most recent census. At the same time there were changes in marriage, religion and ethnicity.

The population passed 200,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Warrington increased by 5.8%, from about 191,000 to 202,000.

The addition of just over 11,000 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Warrington was home to, on average, 8 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was higher than the average across the North West

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the North West, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Warrington

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Warrington increased by three years, from 37 to 40 years.

This affluent area had a slightly higher average age than the North West and became slightly older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of just under 5,800 people between the ages of 40 and 49 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by almost 6,000.

About 16% of people in Warrington are aged between 40 and 49 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Warrington by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Warrington

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased in Warrington, but at a slower rate than across the North West.

In Warrington, the proportion of single people increased from 27% in 2001 to 31% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 30% to 36%.

Across the North West, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 30% to 36%.

The proportion of married people in Warrington fell from 55% to 50%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 10% to 12%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Warrington residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.2% to 1.4% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.5%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.2% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 1.3% in 2001 to 1.6% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Warrington remained close to 1.4%

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Warrington by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Religion in Warrington

The 2011 Census asked a voluntary question about religion. Of those who chose to disclose their religious affiliation, 22% said they had no religion. An increase from 11% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing religious group in Warrington.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the North West (from 10% to 20%), but at a similar rate to the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Warrington that described themselves as Christian decreased from about 160,000 in 2001 to just over 140,000 in 2011 (from 82% to 71%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation remained close to 12,000 (5.9%)

About 2,100 people (0.6%) said they were Muslim, up from about 1,100 in 2001 (1.0%).

The population without a religion in Warrington increased by 10 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Warrington by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Warrington

The percentage of Warrington residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 3.4% to 3.9% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a little in their day-to-day activities remained close to 7.1%, while the percentage of Warrington residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 90% to 89%.

The proportion of people who are considerably limited by a long-term health problem or disability increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.7% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.1% to 3.8%.

The proportion of people who are limited a lot by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the North West

Percentage of usual residents that reported being considerably limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Warrington

In 2011, 96% of the local population said they were from the White ethnic groups. An increase from 98% in 2001 makes this the fastest-growing ethnic group in Warrington.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the North West (from 94% to 90%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Warrington from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 2,300 in 2001 to just over 4,900 in 2011 (from 1.2% to 2.4%). The number of residents from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just over 1,100 to just over 2,100 (from 0.6% to 1.1%).

About 690 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, up from about 360 in 2001 (0.3%).

The population from the White ethnic groups in Warrington decreased by 1.9 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, North West and Warrington by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

In Warrington, the proportion of private renting increased from 4.8% in 2001 to 11% in 2011. During the same period, the regional proportion increased from 8.5% to 15%.

Across the North West, the share of privately rented homes increased from 8.5% to 15%.

The rate of social housing in Warrington fell from 17% to 16%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 75% to 72%.

Private renting in Warrington increased by 6.4 percentage points

Percentage of households in Warrington, the North West and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Warrington residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.1% to 5.4% in the decade to 2011.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just over 8 in 10 (83%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 71% in 2001. The percentage of Warrington residents that described their health as fair decreased from 20% to 12%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 6.8% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Warrington decreased by 3.7 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Warrington, the North West and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

Fewer people worked long hours

The percentage of employed people in Warrington working more than 49 hours in the week before the census decreased from 12% to 9.0% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just over 1 in 40 (2.7%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked less than 16 hours the previous week, compared with 1.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people working long hours fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 8.3% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 13% to 10%.

Long hour working in Warrington decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Warrington, the North West and England that said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

More single parents

The percentage of households in Warrington, which comprised a single parent, increased from 9.2% to 11% between the last two censuses.

In 2011, just under 4 in 10 (37%) households had a married couple, compared with 42% in 2001. The percentage of households in Warrington, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 8.5% to 10%.

The proportion of single-parent households increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 11% in 2001 to 12% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.5% to 11%.

The percentage of households with a single-parent was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households that had a single parent across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

Rise in rate of unemployment

The percentage of Warrington residents that were unemployed increased from 2.9% to 4.0% in the decade to 2011.

The percentage who said they were employed remained close to 57%, while the percentage of Warrington residents that were self-employed increased from 6.6% to 7.8%.

The proportion of unemployed people increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (from 3.6% in 2001 to 4.7% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 3.4% to 4.4%.

The rate of unemployment in Warrington increased by 1.1 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 in Warrington, the North West and England that said they were unemployed, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Warrington with only adult children living with their parents decreased from 11% to 10% in the decade leading up to the most recent census.

In 2011, just over 3 in 10 (31%) households had at least one dependent child, compared with 32% in 2001. The percentage of households in Warrington without children increased from 57% to 59%.

The proportion of households with adult children living with their parents fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the North West (which remained close to 10%). Across England, the percentage increased from 9.4% to 9.6%.

The proportion of households with only adult children living with their parents was lower than across the North West

Percentage of households where a parent lived with their adult children across local authority areas in the North West and the average across England, March 2011

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